.Friends,
Like our Iowa boB, I've been "volunteered" to be on a layout tour in
June. Houston's Division 8 is hosting the Lone Star Convention this
year. The convention hotel is almost within walking distance of my
studio so I don't have an excuse for not being front and center.
This, as usual, has brought up three things on the layout that need
correcting. I've already mentioned my uncoupling ramp change out, next
in line was making some changes to a crossover, and I've forgotten the
third! Most of my turnouts are thrown via twin coil type machines
mounted on Rix racks. This has been a good choice for me for the most
part, except when it comes to the town of Madra, which is about 9" above
Underwood. The switch machines hanging down in the middle of a staging
yard obviously made me fasten them in a more conventional method of
screwing them to the underside of the layout. Over the years I've had
trouble with one turnout, adjusting the throw and lately breaking of a
wire. Making any kind of adjustments required working in this 9"
area--not fun!
So I elected to remove the twin coils and install two slow motion
machines. I first considered the Hankscraft/ torque master/ switch
master (pick your favorite name) motor. The mounting of that device
also had problems due to size and the need for additional contacts. I
also needed to be able to control those motors from two locations. So I
then tried the Tortoise units. These guys also hang down too much, but
I borrowed an idea from a O friend. He mounted his near the layout's
edge and simply ran a music wire link to where it was needed. So I
completed that task last night.
What I'm not relating was that to do the swap and wiring from a near-by
control panel required moving and repositioning a ton of stuff. A
double deep bookcase was located near the panel, so running wiring
wasn't going to happen without a major move. I was amazed what those
cabinets hold--years worth of past magazines, a stash of old RR
calendars and mis. stuff of all manner! So what would have taken me an
afternoon of light work became nearly the whole weekend of moving stuff
in a confined space.
I'm almost to the point of tossing my old MR's to be replaced by their
archival discs. This will open up a mess of space and loose about 300
lbs to boot! Now if RMC, MM, the S Gaugian, the Dispatch and the old
Herald were to be offered in that manner, I could toss another 800 lbs.
Next up, the finishing the painting on my gp-30's, a UP caboose and
hopefully some decals from LBR will arrive shortly to return a passenger
car to service. These projects are becoming critical as our
temperatures will start to make painting the garage a deal breaker.
Bob Werre
PhotoTraxx
